PCT: Columbia Gorge
PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail is a 22.6-mile trail in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Washington and Oregon. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. The forest has not published allowed uses for it. It enters Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 45.6691° N, 121.8294° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 45.7620° N, 122.0404° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 10 segments.
The trail
| Length | 22.6 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 8-10 percent |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | 2000 |
| Forest | Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (unit 0622) |
| States | Washington, Oregon |
| Detail published | basic characteristics |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Wilderness
- Mark O. Hatfield WildernessFS · about 5% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
Bridge Of The Gods Trailhead Open Year-round · listed closed Wilderness restrictions apply within Mark O Hatfield Wilderness. | under 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedBull Piles Rx East
14 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedTyee Piles Rx - South
14 mi from the trail midpoint · 329 acres
- PrescribedBronco Piles Rx East
16 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedOpal Piles Rx -South
18 mi from the trail midpoint · 73 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Washington
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail?
The Forest Service records 22.6 miles under this name in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, the sum of 10 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail?
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area has not published allowed uses for this trail. The forest office can say what is open.
Source: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area official page
Where does the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail start?
The line begins at 45.6691° N, 121.8294° W and ends at 45.7620° N, 122.0404° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Bridge Of The Gods Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness
Where can I camp near the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail?
Herman Creek Campground/Horse Camp (0.7 mi), Eagle Creek Overlook Grp Site (0.8 mi) and Eagle Creek Campground (0.8 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 5 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail?
The typical grade is 8-10 percent.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Scenic or Historic Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail?
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Forest Service unit 0622. The trail is in Washington and Oregon.
Source: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area official page
Is there a fire near the PCT: Columbia Gorge Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Bull Piles Rx East at 14 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 10 segments named PCT: Columbia Gorge in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0622. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.